It would appear that there is a fresh, horrific tale of sensitive data being stolen from an unsecured server almost once per week. It is of the utmost importance that you protect the sensitive information that is stored on your cheap dedicated server and take measures to prevent it from being exposed in any way. Protect yourself from the risk that cybercriminals will use your server to further their own illegal goals or that they will infect your computer with dangerous software or ransomware.
What Does It Mean to Have a Dedicated Server?
A web server that does not share its resources with multiple users at the same time is known as a dedicated server. Shared hosting and Virtual Private Servers (also known as VPS) are two approaches that are used to distribute the server’s resources across a variety of different clients and websites. As a result of this, the resources of the server are referred to as being “dedicated,” which is where the name of the server comes from. It is possible to use the best dedicated server to host multiple websites; however, only one individual or organization will have access to administer all of the websites hosted on that server. There are several variations of dedicated server hosting, but they can all be classified as either managed or unmanaged dedicated server hosting. When you opt for a managed dedicated server, the hosting provider is responsible for all of the server’s upgrades and maintenance, and, in the majority of situations, they are also in charge of the server’s safety. When utilizing an unmanaged dedicated server, it is the user’s responsibility to do any necessary maintenance and to ensure the server’s continued safety. You will, for all intents and purposes, be provided with a server that is empty, and it will be up to you to determine how to put it to use.
How to Prevent Attacks on a Dedicated Server and the Implications Thereof
Before we go into the specifics of how to access a dedicated server, you should be aware that there are other routes you can take. Depending on the services that you run on the server, you may need to be concerned not just with access to the root server but also with the security of your firewall, web server, web applications, database server, email server, DNS, and FTP server. This is in addition to the security of root server access.
Every service that is being carried out on the device has its own individual set of concerns and requirements in terms of safety. Any one of the services can put the others in danger if it contains a vulnerability. If you are unable to devote time and effort to ensuring security, you should think about using a form of hosting that is highly secured or a managed server. In most cases, and in almost all cases, the cost of purchasing a managed dedicated server is going to be significantly greater than the cost of purchasing an unmanaged dedicated server. However, the money you spend is used to pay for the expertise of professionals who deal with issues related to safety on a regular basis. This website is not intended to serve as an all-encompassing guide. Instead, it offers a high-level summary alongside some broad suggestions and recommendations. The topics of discussion include Linux as well as other operating systems that are built on the UNIX kernel.
First and foremost, make sure that the software running on your dedicated server is always brought up to date:
You should always plan for an update to be made available for practically any service or software package that you install on a dedicated server. This is something that you should anticipate happening. There are some people who experience it more regularly than others. It is easy to forget to check for software updates or to ignore them altogether. However, it is a good practice to make it a habit to reserve some time at regular intervals in order to check the website for any modifications. After that, you’ll have the option of deciding whether or not it’s necessary for you to install them. It is highly improbable that you will come to the conclusion that it is absolutely necessary to download every update that is made available for every program. On the other hand, it is essential to take precautions to avoid falling too far behind or relying on technologies that are no longer relevant. The longer a specific version of a service has been around, the greater the likelihood that someone will find a method to take advantage of it.
Limit Or prevent access to:
Every operating system comes pre-configured with a “root” user that can perform administrative tasks. This account has access to administrative controls over… pretty much everything. Altering the root password or passphrase to one that is more difficult to guess or crack is something that needs to be done as soon as possible. In addition, it is strongly advised that you do not log in to the server using the root account at any time. You should avoid doing this at all costs. Create a new user who only has the permissions you require, and then log in using that user’s account. This is the recommended course of action. If you ever find yourself in a situation where you require root access to the server, all you have to do is use the “su root” command and provide the root password. Because of this, you are able to do any action on the server that normally requires root access. If you make it a practice of logging in using a restricted user, you will be able to stop the root user from logging in using SSH after you have reached that point. This is because you will have prevented the root user from logging in using the limited user. Because of this, any attempt by hackers to brute-force their way into the root account will be unsuccessful. This will prevent any potential security breaches. It is also a good idea to limit the number of users who may access the server and to demand that they change their passwords on a regular basis. Both of these measures should be taken. Everyone despises being told they need to change their passwords, but the longer a password is used, the greater the possibility that it may be uncovered and used against the person.
If you do decide to provide access to the server to more than one person, you should verify to make sure that each of those users always logs in using a dependable network. This is the last point, but it’s still important. The data that is saved on your server only has the same level of reliability as its least trustworthy component. Additionally, a user’s credentials are at risk of being stolen if they log in while utilizing an unsecured public Wi-Fi connection, such as the ones that may be found in public places like cafes and restaurants. Checking to see that each and every one of a dedicated server’s users comply with basic safety practices is the single most effective approach for assuring the server’s security.
Hackers are always looking for services that are operating on standard ports, including:
The great majority of services have their default configurations set up so that they run on standard ports or “listen” on those ports. Increasing the security of your system can be accomplished in multiple ways, one of which is by modifying the port numbers for all of the services that can be modified, or at the very least, the ones that have the capability of causing the most damage (such as SSH). This does not make it impossible to discover the service; however, it does hide them from bots that only check specific IP address ranges.
Get rid of it if you’re not going to use it; there’s no point in keeping it:
If you have ever investigated the processes that are active on the personal computer that you use at home, you have most likely discovered a great number of applications or services that you were unaware were being utilized. If you have ever researched the processes that are active on the personal computer that you use at home, you have probably found a vast number of apps or services that you were unaware were being used. If you have ever investigated the processes that are active on your work computer, you have probably found the same thing.
A web server will, by default, also immediately begin running a great deal of other kinds of services. The requirements that you have should, of course, be the determining factor in what is vital. However, if you don’t use services like FTP that require a user to connect to the server, you should disable such services. This is because those services require a user to log into the server. In addition, you should ensure that any programs or services that you examine or test but do not end up utilizing are removed from your system after you have made this decision.
It is a good idea to extend this method to your websites themselves, as it is likely that you may install programs on those websites in order to test them or study them. Consequently, expanding this method to include your websites is a good idea. There is no state of affairs that is more difficult than having a WordPress or Joomla installation that is three years old and has not been maintained. They are like a magnet for those who would exploit them. Delete anything that isn’t currently being utilized by you at this time.
(2FA):
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) to offer an extra layer of protection to your system. Users of this approach are required to submit not one but two pieces of identification in order for their identities to be validated. These forms of identification commonly consist of a password and a one-of-a-kind code that is transmitted to the user’s registered device. Even if your passwords are stolen, you can still prevent unauthorized access if you take these precautions. The smooth integration of two-factor authentication that we provide guarantees a hassle-free user experience without sacrificing data safety.
Configuring the Firewall:
It is absolutely necessary to have a powerful firewall in place in order to protect your network from outside attacks. Our seasoned professionals will install and configure a cutting-edge firewall system that is adapted to meet your unique requirements. This comprises the establishment of rules and regulations to filter incoming and outgoing traffic, as well as the prevention of unwanted access and potential data breaches. Your network will be kept safe at all times thanks to our comprehensive firewall solutions, which include real-time monitoring, regular upgrades, and proactive threat detection.
Imunify360 takes a preventative approach to finding potential security risks and removing them before they may cause damage to your website. Real-time security against malware, viruses, and other dangerous activities is ensured by the sophisticated detection algorithms utilized by this solution. These algorithms constantly scan website traffic in order to recognize tendencies and patterns of potential threats.
Always Keep a Copy of Your Information:
Users of dedicated servers frequently back up their entire servers, including the operating system. This is a common practice. Each of these many sorts of backups is designed to fulfill a certain purpose. On the other hand, if the operating system itself is attacked, it is quite likely that the backup has also been breached. Because of this, a fresh installation of the operating system and all of the services can be a good idea.
On the other hand, your evidence points to an entirely different conclusion. You should try to create backups as often as you possibly can. Additionally, it is not recommended that you store backups on the dedicated server that you have. Always ensure that you have a copy of your data stored in a separate location or with a storage solution that is hosted in the cloud.
Conclusion:
Obtaining a dedicated server is certainly an option for you. It only necessitates paying close attention to the tiniest of details and developing a maintenance routine with plenty of forethought. Hackers, for the most part, are not simply average people, and they are almost usually more resourceful than we are. As a consequence of this, it is in the best interest of everyone to investigate every possible avenue.